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School of Law

GLOCUL Conversations: Professor Jakob De Roover

1 March 2016

Time: 6:30 - 9:00pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre, ArtsOne Building, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS

Hosted by GLOCUL: Centre for Culture and Law, School of Law, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). Professor Jakob de Roover talks with Dr Prakash Shah about his new book 'Europe, India, and the Limits of Secularism' and the Comparative Science of Cultures research programme.

About Jakob De Roover’s book, ‘Europe, India, and the Limits of Secularism'

For several decades now, commentators have sounded the alarm about the ‘crisis of secularism’. According to them, saving the secular state from political religion is a matter of survival for societies characterized by religious diversity. In this narrative, instances of intolerance and violence are conveniently attributed to a failure in adhering to secular norms. Jakob De Roover argues against this search for an external factor to explain the increasing pressures on the model of liberal secularism. Delving deep into its history—which is closely intertwined with the Western cultural context—he brings to light the major flaws internal to this model. Focusing on Asian societies which have historically accommodated a higher degree of religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity than Europe, this book questions the validity of imposing the liberal–secular model outside the West. Taking the constraints of the liberal model of religious toleration and the secular state as its focal point of inquiry, this book examines how the normative model of liberal secularism crystallized in modern Europe and how it determined the European understanding of Indian culture.

This event will be followed by a drinks reception to which all attendees are invited.

Directions

For directions to the venue, please refer to the map.

How to book

This event is free but prior booking is required. Register online via Eventbrite.

Contact

For more information on this event, please email lawevents@qmul.ac.uk.


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